* Most microgrids contain multiple technologies, so site totals by technology may be greater thanthe total number of microgrid sites in the state. Contact online >>
* Most microgrids contain multiple technologies, so site totals by technology may be greater thanthe total number of microgrid sites in the state.
*Note: while this system is waste heat to power it may not meet PURPA''s definition of cogeneration (aka CHP).
The U.S. Department of Energy Microgrid Database is a comprehensive source of information on microgrid installations in the United States. Established in 2018, the Microgrid Database is maintained by ICF Inc. and is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. The database is updated on a semiannual basis.
Providing clean, sustainable energy in an underserved community.
The ProjectRural Panama Micro/Smart Power Grid Sustainability Initiative Proposal
The ClientSES Renewables is partnering with the U.S. Panama Business Council, NSolar, and PROPANAMA to study the feasibility and implementation of micro/smart grids in rural Panama to provide clean electricity to underserved communities with no access to the national power grid. The study has been proposed to the USTDA for funding.
The ChallengeApproximately 93,000 families, representing 7% of Panama''s population, do not have access to electricity. A majority of these Panamanians are indigenous people living in extreme poverty, a condition made even worse by the lack of electricity and the inability to access the internet. By deploying micro/smart grid systems, Panama''s indigenous communities can gain access to permanent, clean, and renewable energy where power delivery is challenging, costly, and unreliable.
The SolutionSES Renewables and our partners have proposed to design and build micro/smart grids with US-sourced components to guarantee permanent, clean, and renewable energy to several of Panama''s indigenous communities currently without access to electricity. Once the project is granted funding by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, it will lead to a more stable, sustainable, climate-friendly, and equitable electrical distribution system for the people of Panama.
The ImpactShould the project be funded, the information gathered on the feasibility of microgrids for this region will be used for further roll-out to more rural communities, resulting in the following:
An asset integrity management tool that helps to significantly reduce unexpected failures.
Research studies determined the safety and performance characteristics of flow batteries.
A Case Study highlighting a groundbreaking approach to sub-seabed sensor protection that significantly reduces costs and enhances the effectiveness of structural health monitoring.
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Community renewable energy (CRE) initiatives have the potential to mitigate some implementation problems arising from other operator models, with benefits including [4]: (1) more engagement and acceptance of renewable energy technology (RET), leading to better integration within the community, adaptation of designs and social organisational structures; (2) derived from a shared sense of ownership, higher satisfaction with RETs and community action towards end-user education; and (3) local technical and managerial capability building and empowerment, supporting long-term system operation.
Access to electricity in Panama has increased in recent decades passing from 81.1% in 1990 to 90.9% in 2012, but for rural areas the statistics were 67.7% and 79.8%, respectively [7]. This situation encouraged students and academics from the Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá (UTP) to develop a pilot project aiming to promote innovative solutions for off-grid communities in rural areas of Panama. Hence, a 100% renewable energy solution was devised, including: solar photovoltaics (1.17 kWp), a small wind turbine (1 kW), and chemical storage (1000 Ah). The project was implemented in three phases and took around 2.5 years before its commissioning in early 2011 [8]; see details in Table 1.
This initiative was sponsored by the National Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation (SENACYT) providing US $44 820 to carry out all the activities in Table 1. Later, a 2.17 kW stand-alone PV-Wind-Battery power system was designed and installed for the selected off-grid community known as “Boca de Lura”. Boca de Lura is located 30 km north of Penonome, the nearest town, in the Cocle province. There are 42 families (164 people) living within a 3 km radius and about 12 km away from the national grid. Today, the power plant provides electricity to the local primary school for 38 children, which also serves as the school teacher''s lodging and as a community facility; see Figure 1.
School buildings are used by community members and visitors for: (a) civic and cultural celebrations; (b) training provision from national institutions for adult education, e.g. on general health, and agricultural best practices in the region; and (c) as a warehouse for humanitarian aid for 14 neighbouring off-grid communities after natural disasters. This multi-objective project was recognized as successful in Panama [9]. Also, has led to the development of further projects for accessing and improving educational technology for the children in Boca de Lura [10].
Summary of main activities for project preparation, design and implementation [8].
Boca de Lura project costs breakdown.
The sustainability assessment for the Boca de Lura is briefly presented in this section. The success factors so far and the main challenges for the long-term sustainability of the RE hybrid project in Boca de Lura are organised by capability areas. Recommendations to overcome some of the obstacles encountered in this project are also provided where relevant.
Figure 3 illustrates how the interaction between the SPA and outsiders is, which influenced also the areas of ownership, technical design and O&M of the power system. There is now a need to either create a new local social structure, e.g. an energy committee, or to transfer governance to another existing social structure, e.g. the water committee, as a means of utilising the water-energy nexus for enhancing local empowerment.
Decision making structures for the Boca de Lura Energy project.
Legal ownership of the RE hybrid power systems as well as the actors with different functions in this CRE initiative are presented in Figure 3. During field visits it was noted that the system components had an asset numberplate from the SENACYT or the UTP; however, other actors were identified as having responsibilities for O&M of these assets. The purchase of equipment was done by the UTP using funds from the SENACYT, and after installation the ownership was transferred via a donation letter from the UTP to the MEDUCA. Therefore, the community does not have legal ownership of the system. If long-term operation of the power plant is sought, then a new ownership structure should be defined, aiming to keep the ownership within the community.
The system design process was led by engineers from the UTP (Tab. 1). The selection criteria for RE generators and system components considered: (1) availability in the local market; (2) quality of the hardware; (3) cost-benefit relationship, e.g. maintenance needs and technology complexity; and (4) budget compliance. The total cost of the 2.17 PV-Wind-Battery hybrid system in 2011 was US $11 000 (Fig. 2) and represented US $6567/kW of installed capacity. Since then, electricity is supplied in Boca de Lura for: 1 workshop; 3 class rooms; 2 teachers'' bedrooms; 1 laundry area; and lighting for halls and toilets.
The design process and system performance during commissioning were considered to be technically successful [9]. Unfortunately, no technical capacity was transferred to the Boca de Lura community, as resource assessment, technology selection and sizing were carried out in isolation from locals. Neither, local technician were trained for assuming O&M responsibilities.
Energy and peak load in 2011, field assessment in 2016 and projections to 2021.
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